Highly heat-conductive body wrap

ABSTRACT

A highly heat-conductive body wrap ( 10 ) comprises a casing ( 13 ) made of highly flexible, elastic material and equipped with means for fastening it to the shell ( 11 ) of a tub ( 12 ) for cosmetic treatments. The casing ( 13 ) has at least one base portion ( 14 ) and side compartments ( 15, 16 ), at least one ( 16 ) of the side compartments ( 15, 16 ) being connected to a water system designed to distribute hot liquid within it.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a highly heat-conductive bodywrap used in cosmetic and/or medical treatments for body care.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a body wrap made,advantageously, of highly flexible and elastic plastic and whosestructure is such that it can be used in conjunction with a tub forphysical wellness and beauty treatments.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The use of hot tubs for cosmetic and beauty treatments is wellknown.

[0004] These tubs comprise a shell designed to contain a liquid that canbe heated by suitable thermostatically controlled means and transferredusing pumps or other suitable machinery.

[0005] The opening of the tub shell is covered entirely by animpermeable body wrap in direct contact with the heated liquid in such away as to transmit heat to the wrap not only by conduction but also byconvective motion.

[0006] The wrap is made of an elastic and flexible plastic material.When a user lies back in the tub, the wrap adapts to his/her shape andfolds over to completely wrap up his/her body.

[0007] Usually, the user's skin is covered with cosmetic products whichare softened and melted by the heat transmitted by the wrap, giving asense of wellness and guaranteeing uniformity of treatment thanks to theadhesion of the wrap to the body.

[0008] The tub is usually connected to an external water supply so thatthe heating liquid can be continuously recycled in such a way as tofavour convective motion in the areas in contact with the wrap.

[0009] This type of tub is particularly suitable for skin caretreatments, including mud therapy, and can be used for a wide variety ofapplications in the cosmetics sector.

[0010] EP-A-0098390 describes for example a body wrap made of an elasticand flexible material which covers entirely the opening of a tub shelland is in direct contact with the heated liquid in such a way totransmit the heat to the wrap.

[0011] When a user lies back in the tub, the wrap adapts to his/hershape and folds over to completely wrap up his/her body. The tub isusually connected to an external water supply so that the heating liquidcan be continuously recycled in such a way as to favour convectivemotion in the areas in contact with the wrap.

[0012] One disadvantage, however, is the fact that the wrap adheresperfectly to the lower part of the user's body, which is on the sameside as the tub shell, but does not adhere uniformly to the upper sideof the body, which faces the outside of the shell.

[0013] Another disadvantage is the fact that the convective motion ofthe hot liquid is effective at the portion of the wrap that is incontact with the lower part of the user's body, but does not efficientlyreach the parts of the wrap which are folded over the upper part of theuser's body.

[0014] Thus, to ensure uniform treatment, the user is obliged to liefirst on his/her back for one part of the treatment and then turn roundto lie on his/her stomach to complete the treatment.

[0015] Moreover, the weak convective motion of the liquid at the upperfolds of the wrap, significantly reduces the wellness effect because ofthe different temperature gradient felt by the user between the upperand lower portions of the wrap.

[0016] With reference to the medical field, several systems to regulatethe body temperature in abnormal condition are known.

[0017] WO-A-9944552 describes a system and a method for controlling anindividual's body and temperature. Said system comprises a heatexchanger for transferring heat to or removing heat from portions of theindividual's body surface with the aim to allow controlled cooling ofthe body temperature, controlled heating, as well as regulating anindividual's body temperature to remain at a desired set temperature. Itis a unique feature of the system according to WO-A-9944552 that ittakes into consideration the complexity of the heat transfer regimentfrom the skin to the body's core. In order to be effective in cooling orheating, the heat exchanger according to WO-A-9944552 has typically theform of a garment and has to be fitted onto the individual's skin.

[0018] This is very different from the aim of the present inventionwhich provides a highly heat-conductive body wrap to be used connectedto hot tubs for cosmetics and beauty treatments were the user's skin iscovered with cosmetics products or with mud in the case for example ofmud baths.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,494 describes an apparatus for warming,delivering, and distributing the water flow over at least fifty percentof the body surface of a subject and for collecting spent water into areceptacle. Said apparatus comprises a system of water-permeable waterdistribution tubes supplied with temperature-controlled water whichdistributes water over an area of an adsorbent web.

[0020] In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,494 the system is developed tobe used in the medical field to regulate the body temperatureparticularly in the case hyperthermia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention has for an aim to provide a highlyheat-conductive body wrap capable of overcoming or significantlyreducing the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0022] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a highlyheat-conductive body wrap that is easy to apply to any type of tub forphysical wellness and beauty treatments.

[0023] These aims are accomplished by a highly heat-conductive body wrapfor cosmetic and/or medical treatments having the features described inthe main claim.

[0024] The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of theinvention.

[0025] The highly heat-conductive body wrap sheet according to theinvention comprises a two-ply casing made of highly flexible, elasticmaterial, equipped with means for fastening it to the shell of a tub forphysical wellness and beauty treatments, said casing having at least onebase portion and side compartments, at least one of which is connectedto a water system and designed to hold continuously recycled liquid.

[0026] According to the invention, the side compartment has a device fordistributing the liquid inside it.

[0027] The distribution device may consist of a main flexible tube towhich there may be connected two or more secondary branch tubesuniformly distributed within the compartment itself and equipped withoutflow holes.

[0028] In one embodiment, the distribution device consists of aplurality of longitudinal, intercommunicating chambers having respectiveopenings leading into the side compartment.

[0029] Advantageously, the water system used to supply the tub shell isthe same as the one used to supply the hot liquid to the sidecompartment.

[0030] The water system includes an electric pump which, for safety,operates on low-voltage power.

[0031] When the user lies in the tub, the base portion of the body wrapguarantees good adhesion to his/her skin, favouring the exchange of heatwith the hot liquid in the tub shell, while the upper portion with theside compartments, allows good heat transfer thanks to the liquid fromthe distribution device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The characteristics and advantages of the invention are apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, with reference to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention provided merely by way of example without restricting thescope of the inventive concept, and in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a front view of the body wrap according to the inventionin working conditions;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a body wrap with some parts in crosssection; and

[0035]FIG. 3 is a plan view, with some parts in cross section, ofanother embodiment of the body wrap according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10denotes in its entirety a highly heat-conductive body wrap, inparticular a wrap 10 fastened to the shell 11 of a tub 10 for physicalwellness and beauty treatments.

[0037] The wrap 10 consists of a casing 13 made of a highly flexible andelastic material and having at least one base portion 14 and sidecompartments 15 and 16.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the compartment 16 presents amain tube 17 to which there can be connected to two or more secondarybranch tubes 18 uniformly distributed inside the compartment 16 itselfand having outflow holes 19.

[0039] The secondary tubes 18 extend transversally along the back of thecompartment 16 preferably parallel to each other and inclined to themain tube not necessarily at right angles.

[0040] The holes 19 may be aligned on a respective secondary tube 18facing the main tube 17.

[0041] The latter protrudes partly from the compartment 16 and has, atthe free end of it, a fitting 20 for connecting it to a water system(not illustrated in the drawings) designed to supply a continuouslyrecycled hot liquid.

[0042] The perimetric edge 21 of the wrap 10 is designed to be retainedinside a respective fastener 22 which is integral with the upper edge ofthe shell 11 in such a way as to form effective means for attaching thewrap 10 to the tub 12.

[0043] The hot liquid flows uniformly through the interior of the wholecompartment 16, first through the main tube 17 in the directionindicated by the arrow and then enters each of the secondary tubes 18and flows out through the holes 19.

[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the side compartment 16is equipped with a device for distributing hot liquid consisting of aplurality of intercommunicating longitudinal chambers 23 and 24.

[0045] Each chamber 23 and 24 is separated from the adjacent chamber byribs 25, consisting, for example, of sealed seams extending lengthwaysalong most of the compartment 16 and leaving room for a connecting zone26, at the far end relative to the fitting 20, and for a set of outflowopenings 27 on the side opposite the zone 26.

[0046] In this embodiment, the hot liquid flows into the main tubethrough the fitting 20 and, from the main tube, into each chamber 24 andout through the holes 27.

[0047] The liquid flowing out of the holes 27 is then recycled into thetub 12.

[0048] The side compartments 15 and 16 may be in direct communicationwith the inside of the tub 12 so as to use the same hot liquid as thatin the shell 11, the liquid being transferred from one point in thesystem to another by any conventional machine (not illustrated).

[0049] The machine may consist of an electric pump which, for safety,operates on low-voltage power.

[0050] The bottom of the shell 11 normally has at least one opening 28designed to allow the hot liquid to flow out. The hot liquid flows backin through the fitting 20 and falls into the tub 12 after flowingthrough the side compartment 16, thus being continuously recycled.

[0051] When a user lies in the tub 12, the base portion 14 of the bodywrap 10 is deformed in such a way as to wrap the user's body and toadhere to his/her skin. Under these conditions, heat can be effectivelytransferred by the hot liquid in the shell 11.

[0052] The side compartments 16 and 15 are folded over the top of theuser to the closed position. In particular, the compartment 16 ispositioned in direct contact with the user's skin so as to allow theheat of the hot liquid to be effectively transferred.

[0053] The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment of it.

[0054] Therefore, it will be understood that the invention may bemodified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from thescope of the inventive concept.

1. A highly heat-conductive body wrap (10) comprising a casing (13) madeof highly flexible, elastic material and equipped with fixing means,said wrap (10) wherein the casing (13) has at least one base portion(14), and side compartments (15, 16) and which are foldable over thebase portion (14) to cover a body laying on the wrap, whereby said wrap(10) is a two-ply sheet, at least one (16) of the side compartments (15,16) being connectable to a water system and comprising an open devicefor distributing hot liquid over the internal surface of the said atleast one compartment (16) when it is folded over said body.
 2. A wrap(10) according to claim 1, wherein the distribution device consists of amain tube (17), connectable to the water system, and communicating witha plurality of secondary branch tubes (18) uniformly distributed withinthe side compartment (16) and having a plurality of outflow holes (19).3. A wrap (10) according to claim 2, wherein the holes (19) are alignedon each of the secondary tubes (18).
 4. A wrap (10) according to claim1, wherein the distribution device consists of a plurality ofintercommunicating longitudinal chambers (23, 24).
 5. A wrap (10)according to claim 4, wherein that each chamber (23, 24) is separatedfrom the adjacent chamber by ribs (25) extending lengthways along mostof the compartment (16).
 6. A wrap (10) according to claim 4, whereineach longitudinal chamber (23) has an outflow opening (27) leading intothe compartment (16).
 7. A tub (12) for cosmetic and beauty treatmentscomprising a wrap (10) according to claim 1, from and a water system forthe supply of hot liquid to a shell (11) of the tub (12) and/or to theside compartment (16) of the wrap (10).
 8. A tub (12) according to claim7 characterised in that the hot liquid flowing in the open device iscollected inside the tub.
 9. A wrap (10) according to claim 2,characterised in that the distribution device consists of a plurality ofintercommunicating longitudinal chambers (23, 24).
 10. A wrap (10)according to claim 5, characterised in that each longitudinal chamber(23) has an outflow opening (27) leading into the compartment (16). 11.A tub (12) for cosmetic and beauty treatments comprising a wrap (10)according to claim 2, from and a water system for the supply of hotliquid to a shell (11) of the tub (12) and/or to the side compartment(16) of the wrap (10).
 12. A tub (12) for cosmetic and beauty treatmentscomprising a wrap (10) according to claim 3, from and a water system forthe supply of hot liquid to a shell (11) of the tub (12) and/or to theside compartment (16) of the wrap (10).
 13. A tub (12) for cosmetic andbeauty treatments comprising a wrap (10) according to claim 4, from anda water system for the supply of hot liquid to a shell (11) of the tub(12) and/or to the side compartment (16) of the wrap (10).
 14. A tub(12) for cosmetic and beauty treatments comprising a wrap (10) accordingto claim 5, from and a water system for the supply of hot liquid to ashell (11) of the tub (12) and/or to the side compartment (16) of thewrap (10).
 15. A tub (12) for cosmetic and beauty treatments comprisinga wrap (10) according to claim 6, from and a water system for the supplyof hot liquid to a shell (11) of the tub (12) and/or to the sidecompartment (16) of the wrap (10).